​In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Borough President James Oddo is pleased to announce a partnership with the technology company Uber to offer free transportation to and from breast cancer screening appointments during the entire month of October for any woman who needs a ride.
 
Those who want to participate in the program must call the Borough President’s office for a single use code that can be entered into the Uber app to claim their free ride to and from the appointment. Women must provide their name, contact information, and the date and location of their screening to be eligible. Women should call (718) 816-2198 to receive the code.
 
“I want to eliminate all barriers that are stopping women from getting screened,” said Borough President Oddo. “I’m pleased to partner with Uber on this program, which will make it easier for women to get to and from their necessary appointments. Now there’s absolutely no excuse for not getting screened. We know that mammograms are important preventative measures for women. The earlier cancer is found, the easier it is to treat. Despite recommendations to the contrary from some organizations, experts continue to emphasize the importance of mammograms in detecting breast cancer. Thank you to Uber for being a good corporate partner and working with us to improve women’s health in our borough. I urge Staten Island women to get screened in the month of October and to take advantage of this free program if they need a ride.”
 
“Access to transportation should never be a barrier to receiving care,” said Sarfraz Maredia, Uber General Manager for Northeast U.S. and Canada. “Uber is honored to work with the Borough President to offer all Staten Island women a reliable way to get to and from their appointments, and we encourage all residents to take advantage of these free rides during Breast Cancer Awareness month.”
 
In addition to the free rides, BP Oddo is sponsoring his fourth round of free mobile mammography screenings this year. The screenings will take place on Tuesday, October 3rd. The mobile mammography van will be at the Beacon Christian Community Health Center (2079 Forest Avenue) from 9:30am to 4:30pm. There will also be a van at Hylan Plaza Parking Lot in New Dorp (near CVS) from 9:00am to 12:00pm and at Bricktown Commons (Michael's Parking Lot) in Charleston from 1:30pm to 4:30pm.
 
The screenings will be available to eligible women ages 40 and older who have not had a mammogram in the past year. All insurance plans will be accepted, and co-pays and deductibles will be waived. The mammograms will be free to uninsured women.
 
An appointment must be made to get screened on October 3. To make an appointment at Beacon Christian Community Health Center, call (877) 628-9090. To make an appointment at the Bricktown Commons or Hylan Plaza locations, call (800) 564-6868. Since all screenings in October are included in this announcement, the screenings scheduled for October 3 are eligible for the free Uber ride. Women should simply call the Borough President’s office at 718-816-2198 after making their appointment for the code for the free ride or to receive a free ride to screening appointments throughout the rest of the month.
 
The October 3 screenings are sponsored by the New York State Cancer Services Program, the Cancer Services Program of Staten Island, and the American-Italian Cancer Foundation. 

On Wednesday, August 8th, BP Oddo joined with U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, Assemblyman Michael Cusick, Dr. Jordan Glaser, Director of Infectious Diseases at SIUH, as well as several Staten Island residents with Lyme disease in Clove Lakes Park to discuss the spread of tick-borne disease.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection carried by deer ticks, which can be transmitted by a bite to a human or animal host. Lyme disease begins as a rash at the location of the tick bite, and then spreads to the nervous system and joints. Early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment is crucial, as almost 100% of cases with early diagnosis are cured.

Another disease, transmitted like Lyme, is called Powassan Virus (POW). After the initial bite, the disease usually takes one week to one month to reveal itself. It cannot be transmitted human to human. People with the disease need to be hospitalized as soon as possible and immediately put on to respiratory support and IV fluids. Minor or massive brain swelling may also occur.

Lyme disease is extremely prevalent in the 5 boroughs, with 8,000+ cases over the past 15 years. According to the New York City Department of Health, there were 123 Lyme disease infections on Staten Island last year and 121 Lyme disease infections in 2015. According to Staten Island University Hospital, in 2015 there were 8 reported cases in Port Richmond; 22 reported cases in Stapleton-St.George; 22 reported cases in Willowbrook; and 69 reported cases in South Beach- Tottenville.

Schumer urged the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to double-down on efforts to fully implement laws passed by Congress last year that will significantly increase research, vaccine development, and treatment strategies to help stamp out tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease.

BP Oddo said, “It seems with each passing week there is another awful story about a Staten Islander impacted by Lyme disease. We proudly call ourselves the ‘Borough of Parks,’ and we encourage Staten Islanders to get out and be active, yet we know the Lyme risk continues to grow. That is why we are thankful that on this issue, like so many other local issues, we have the staunchest of allies in Senator Schumer.”

“The reality is the Feds now have the tools to begin stamping out diseases like Powassan Virus and Lyme disease, but they’re still dragging their feet, even though more and more New Yorkers are being infected with horrible tick-borne diseases,” said Senator Schumer. “The threat of tick-borne diseases is very real on Staten Island so it is imperative that we do all that we can to halt the continued spread every single summer. That’s why I am urging HHS Secretary Tom Price to quickly implement the already-passed legislation within the 21st Century Cures Act, to ensure that we are making a sufficient attempt at ridding ourselves of these chronic diseases. There is no more time to waste, and HHS must step up their game.” 
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There are currently no vaccines or specific treatments for POW. However, there are methods for prevention of tick bites, which also help prevent Lyme disease. These include: staying out of wooded or bushy areas that contain high grass, the use of insect repellent/DEET, a bath or shower within 2 hours of being in a wooded area, and full-body tick checks for both yourself and any pet that may have travelled with you.

On Monday, August 8th, BP Oddo joined with Dan Messina, President and CEO of Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC), to announce that the hospital will open a cardiac rehabilitation facility. Cardiac rehab is a medically supervised program consisting of exercise training. It is recommended for patients who have had a heart attack, bypass surgery, heart failure, and other cardiovascular disease.

The initial request to open a cardiac rehab came out of one of BP Oddo’s Heart Health Roundtables in 2016. BP Oddo then worked with those in the health and wellness community to turn this idea into a reality. To help bring cardiac rehab to RUMC, BP Oddo has allocated $250,000 of taxpayer money for this project.

“People are fortunate to get a second lease on life. We want to do be able to do everything to give them a healthy and happy life following the surgery. Cardiac rehab does that. There’s no reason that a borough of 500,000 people should not have it,” BP Oddo said. “Just about every medical or health indicator gets better with cardiac rehab. The patient improves his or her physical endurance, physical strength, balance, their ability to do just about anything.”

"Cardiac rehab patients not only live longer, they live better," noted Dr. Mitchell Fogel, Sr. Vice President, Chair of Department of Medicine and Chief Medical Officer at RUMC.

There has been no cardiac rehab facility on Staten Island for several years, forcing recovering heart patients to go to other boroughs or New Jersey for this important service. The cardiac rehab at RUMC will be up and running by early next year. 

BP Oddo has also allocated $250,000 for a new cardiac rehab center at Staten Island University Hospital, which is in the process of planning for its new facility.

BP Oddo announced that he will host a free thyroid cancer screening day at Borough Hall. The screenings will take place on Thursday, July 20th from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Conference Room 125. The screenings are sponsored by HeartScan Services.
 
The rate of diagnosis of thyroid cancer has increased in recent years due to improvements to technology. In many cases, physicians cannot feel a nodule, but cancer can be detected through ultrasound screenings. The survival rate of thyroid cancer is very high when the cancer is found in early stages.
 
“I encourage all Staten Islanders to take advantage of these free screenings,” said Borough President Oddo. “We are providing these services to encourage Staten Islanders to engage in preventative measures and take charge of their health. The earlier cancer is found, the easier it is to treat.”
 
An appointment must be made to be screened. Contact Renee Sarno at 718-816-2133 to reserve your appointment. 

On Tuesday, June 20th, BP Oddo joined with representatives of Staten Island University Hospital to unveil five new state-of-the-art ambulances he helped fund. These ambulances function as part of the 911 system, allowing EMTs and Paramedics to respond quickly to dire situations.

The new ambulances run on regular gasoline instead of diesel, which is more environmentally friendly and helps reduce engine noise. The ambulance is equipped with brand new power-load stability, making the job easier for the emergency professionals and giving more comfort to the patients while they are being loaded to the vehicle.

"Last year, Staten Islanders reached out to emergency medical professionals for help 50,000 times,” said BP Oddo, noting that Staten Island is the only borough to hold a ceremony that honors EMS workers. “We want to give these professionals all the tools they need to help, and when we allocate tax dollars, we want it to go to the front line. These ambulances are five concrete examples of accomplishing that."
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Along with BP Oddo, the ambulances were funded by former City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, former Borough President James Molinaro and Council Member Debi Rose. The ambulances will officially join the fleet at the end of June.

On Wednesday, June 7th, BP Oddo joined with members of the community at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex to launch the Staten Island Child Wellness Initiative (CWI). This coalition was created through help of the community along with the partnership of the Borough President James Oddo and the Staten Island Partnership for Community Wellness (SIPCW).
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The idea for CWI was generated from a series of meetings of BP Oddo’s Health and Wellness Advisory Council, in which participants engaged in spirited discussions about how they could have the greatest impact on Staten Island’s health needs, particularly those of young people.

The CWI was created in order to increase the opportunities for healthy living for children and families and to reduce childhood obesity. The aim is to provide accessible options for active living as well as availability of fresh and healthy food, aiming to bring 80 percent of children below high school age to a healthy weight.

An assortment of speakers at the ceremony discussed the issue of childhood obesity, including Deputy Mayor Dr. Herminia Palacio.

“It is clear to see that childhood obesity is a real problem that must be addressed to prevent a lifetime of illness,” said Borough President Oddo. “We are getting to the heart of the matter by addressing child wellness and child health.” 

Adrienne Abbate, Executive Director of the SIPCW, noted the importance of the community member engagement, saying, “By working together with partners across Staten Island to address this urgent issue, we can shape a healthy future for our children, and reverse the rising rates of obesity in our borough. Although this is a borough-wide initiative, the CWI will use data to target communities and neighborhoods that have higher need and poorer health outcomes.”

The CWI’s progress will be measured by changes in BMI over time in Staten Island children

On Friday, May 12th, BP Oddo joined with the Staten Island Performing Provider System (SI PPS) to launch the Drug Prevention Portal, a new website that tracks data in the battle against the opioid epidemic. The website includes information on Naloxone saves, overdose deaths, Emergency Department visits and hospital admissions. In addition, it provides resources for the families of those suffering from addiction, including contact information for treatment providers and information on where to get Naloxone kits.
 
The idea for the Drug Prevention Portal came from the BP’s Policy team, who found a similar dashboard that compiles data in Rhode Island. Working in conjunction with the PPS, they adapted it for Staten Island’s specific needs.
 
“Late in 2016 my Policy staff presented to me exciting information about the Rhode Island Dashboard that has been such a useful tool in that State as they battle their own opioid epidemic,” said BP Oddo. “We agreed that we simply have to bring something similar to Staten Island. We immediately asked our partners at the SI PPS, who have the experience, access to data, and technical capability to undertake such a project, to consider building our own local dashboard. It is exciting to see it released to the public. Let me be clear, this is not data collection for the sake of data collection; rather this dashboard will be a real time resource for those who need assistance, as well as policymakers as we continue to look for new ways to fight this deadly epidemic.”
 
“By creating this web service for our partners, providers and the community, we have been able to provide an invaluable resource for improving the health and wellness of its users. The site centers on tackling the drug epidemic by bringing together useful data sources, key research and other tools for users to access in an easy to use and convenient online platform. We are very excited to hear about the user experience of the site from our various partners, and hope to continuously improve and build upon this new addition to our arsenal in the fight against substance abuse,” said Celina Ramsey, Director of Health Literacy, Diversity & Outreach at SI PPS.
 
Check out the portal here: www.sidrugprevention.org 

On Monday, May 8th, Borough President James S. Oddo joined with Anthony Ferreri, former President and CEO of Staten Island University Hospital in addition to other executive-level positions with Northwell Health Systems, to announce that Mr. Ferreri has accepted a position at Borough Hall as Special Advisor for Strategic Initiatives.
 
As part of his new position, Mr. Ferreri will oversee major health and wellness initiatives for the office, including the Seaview Health and Wellness Campus and the opioid crisis. He will also draw on his administrative background to advise the Borough President on economic development issues.
 
"I’ve known Tony for a very long time,” noted BP Oddo. “He’s someone I consider a friend and a confidant. He’s someone who has given me wise council long before he joined our team. I respect his experience and trust his judgement. Tony's given a lifetime of service to this borough, and he's still got a lot to give. I’m going to be tapping into his expertise on lots of different fronts. We have another warrior for this borough, who is now a part of our team, and we’re excited about it." "Both Borough President Oddo and I have a tremendous passion for this community,” said Mr. Ferreri. “We love Staten Island. I care about what happens to my home, and I think we can do more for the people of Staten Island. We need to plan ahead and make development that’s strategic, while also having the right infrastructure to support our economic growth. I want to help Borough President Oddo continue all the great things he’s already started to make Staten Island a better place to live. I am honored to be part of this team and grateful for the opportunity."
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Mr. Ferreri will receive $1 a year, essentially donating his time to help Staten Island.